Charles g



G. G. WILSON.

FRUIT GATHERBR.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

N, PETERS. Pholmhllmgfllphen Washington, ac

' Un-rrn rn rns PATENT CHARLES G. \VILSON, OF HORACE, KANSAS.

FRUlT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent; No. 391,929, dated October 30, 1888.

Application filed December 21, 1887. Serial No. 258,012.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES G.\VII.SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Horace,iu the county of Greeley and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Gatherers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in f ruit-gathcrers; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fruit-gathcrer. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of a fragment of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the handle, which is made in a number of sec tions, 13, as shown, connected by the sleeves O. The ends of the sections of thehandle are reduced, and the sleeves G are fitted on the reduced portions, being secured permanently to the end of one section and adapted to fit snugly over the end of the adjacent section, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. At the up per end of the top section of the handle is firmly secured a sleeve, D, having a longitudinal slot, E, in its upper portion, through which passes an arm or red, F, secured to the swingingjaw G, which is hinged to the lower portion of the rigid jaw II, said rigid jaw being permanently secured to the upper extremity of the slotted sleeve D. These jaws G and II consist of the fiat circular bands I, and have the woven-wire baskets J secured to said bands. The basket J of the jaw G is secured permanently to the band, while that of the jaw II is intended tobe readily detached therefrom. To the flat circular band of the jaw H is riveted or similarly secured the up per end of the conveyertubc K, which is constructed of canvas or similar suitable material, and is provided at intervals along its length with the clastic'bands L, which are secured permanently thereto and encircle the same, as shown. The conveyor-tube K is intended to be permanently secured to the band of the rigid jaw H, and will always be in operative position. Its upper end, however, will usually be closed by reason of the basket J but the conveyor-tube is intended to be used only when it is desired to gather the fruit in large quantities,as for transportation.

(No model.)

The metal comprising the bands I is doubled to form grooves or openings 2' and 2", the former to receive the basket J and the latter to receive the conveyer-tubc K and a basket, J. The groove or opening 1" is about twice as wide as the groove or opening i, whereby sufficient space is left between the conveyor-tube K and the inner side of the groove or opening 2" to receive the basket J, which is slightly compressed and inserted in the jaw H, and then fitted in the opening i,where it is retained by wedging or other suitable means. The basket in this way will securely be fastened in the band, but can readily be detached therefrom.

To the free end of the rod or arm F is attaehedia cord or wire, M, which passes downward through suitable guides or eyes, N, se cured to the handle to within convenient reach of the operator. 7

In practice the swinging jaw is normally away from therigid jaw to permit the entrance of the fruit between the jaws, and when it is desired to gather fruit the jaws are brought together against the stems, as will be readily understood. The fruit then falls into the woven-wire basket, and the device islowered to the ground and the fruit removed. If it is desired to gather a large quantity of fruit and have the same passed at once to the ground, the woven-wire basket of the rigid. jaw is removed and the fruit allowed to pass through the conveyer-tube K, which is compressed at the several places of seeurement of the elastic bands, thereby hindering the descent of the fruit and consequently preventing its falling with such rapidity and force as to become bruised. The woven-wire baskets are of yield- 0 inner side to adapt it to receive .1 detach-Able l In testimony that I claim thelbljegoing as my basket to fit therein and in the mouth of the own Ihavehereto affixed my signature in presconveyer-tube, whereby the fruit-gatherer is ence of two witnesses adapted to gather fruit in small quantities,and

5 a swinging jaw hinged to the rigid jaw and provided with a permanent]y-secured basket, v substantially as described.

CHARLES G. WILSON. \Vitnesses:

W. T. O CONNOR, S. DAILY. 

